FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 3, 2011

Minister of Health, Hon. Rudyard Spencer says the donation of masks and spacers by Lasco Distributors will go a far way in assisting in controlling asthma in a number of patients who visit public health facilities especially children. Minister Spencer was speaking at a ceremony today held at the Ministry’s head office in Down Town, Kingston, where 700 masks and 400 spacers valued at $670,000 were handed over. These devices help to ensure that the prescribed inhaled medication reaches the lungs in order to alleviate the symptoms of asthma.

Minister Spencer said “this donation is particularly important because asthma is one of the most common chronic illnesses that affect both the adult and child population in Jamaica. In addition, it is the leading cause of hospitalization among children under five years old. This is especially relevant with our observance of World Asthma Day today under the theme ‘you can control your asthma’.”

The World Health Organization estimates that globally, approximately 300 million people suffer from asthma with 255,000 deaths occurring in 2005 alone. The WHO points out that while asthma remains a concern in all countries regardless of their level of development, 80 percent of deaths occur in low and middle income countries such as Jamaica.

Jamaica recorded 19,647 cases of Asthma seen in primary health care facilities in 2008. Additionally, there were 55,572 visits to accident and emergency departments for Asthma in that year compared with 41,858 in 2007 which represents an overall increase of 32.8%. The total hospital discharges for Asthma in 2008 was 2,185 and a total of 1,418 cases of asthma were seen in public outpatient departments, where 100 clinics were held.  The total Asthma cases for that year represented a 1.2% increase when compared to the 2007 figure of 1,400.  Of the Asthma cases in 2008, 181 were new cases.

World Asthma Day is celebrated on the first Tuesday of May each year.